Belizeans are living in a state of fear, make no mistake about that. Belize City has become the cesspool of the entire country, with residents fearful to venture out of their homes even in broad daylight, and visitors afraid to walk the streets. Small business owners who try to operate without security learn the folly of taking that risk very quickly. Even armed security guards are no guarantee of safety, since they frequently become the victims of planned attacks, sometimes losing their lives in the process. Law abiding Belizeans from all walks of life have either already been or will become victims of the criminals who have for all intents and purposes taken control of the city – you can bet on that.

Belizeans are living in a state of fear. And it’s not only Belize City. The rest of the country is rapidly being consumed by the lawless. The west, once renowned for its beauty, peace and tourism value, is now the ‘wild, wild West, where bandits seem to operate with impunity and everyone is a target. Six murders in the Cayo District in one week – imagine that. And the government wants us to believe that major crimes have gone down. Tell us another story, idiots.

This is no laughing matter. As you are reading this, chances are that you or someone close to you will be a victim of crime in the near future – no joke. That’s how bad it is. Cold blooded killers walk our streets looking for one opportunity – just one, that’s all it will take – to blast somebody into oblivion. Sometimes it’s for a few coins from your pocket, sometimes for a necklace off your neck, sometimes for an old beef - sometimes you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But dead is dead.

Even as I write this story tonight, two persons are missing from a caye off Belize City and are believed dead. Only blood stains are left to mark their passing. As I write this story, the news anchor on the local TV station is reporting on three separate robberies in Belize City. And GOB wants us to believe that crime is down.

Belizeans are living in a state of fear, and GOB is silent. Prime Minister Dean Barrow is silent. Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo is silent. Where is the plan to rid Belize of the criminals who have us imprisoned? Before elections there was a lot of talk – now there is none. There is just a half hearted effort to make us believe that crime is down. Well, we’re not buying it.

As we go to press tonight, we note nine names – Jerson Hernandez, Angel Xis, Marco Tulio Xis, Nirba Bradley, Michael Hill, Donna Hill, Soila Ramclaim, Earl Crawford Young and Myrtle Gill. Seven confirmed homicides, two suspected homicides.

Dean and Carlos – why don’t you both try convincing the families of these victims that major crime has gone down? Try to convince them that your magically formulated stats are the real thing. I’d be interested in the response. More next week…